The process has been described as confusing, legally complicated and frustrating, as the Portsmouth Police Commission tries to determine how Chief Stephen DuBois will end his career.

The commission voted one for, one against and one abstaining on the latest potential separation agreement between the city and DuBois. The agreement would keep him on the job for another three months, instead of the six initially proposed.

"We are more divided than ever, and it's unfortunate, and I think the only way this can be resolved is with public input," Commissioner Brenna Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh said she voted against the latest agreement after listening to public input about a controversy haunting the process: the Geraldine Webber estate. The elderly millionaire left most of her estate to a Portsmouth detective, but a probate judge threw the will out.

The department was depicted as turning a blind eye to what was going on. DuBois was deputy chief at the time."He needs to go today," commission candidate Joe Onosko said. "He needed to go months ago."

DuBois wasn't formally implicated in the Webber case, and he has two years left on his legal contract. DuBois didn't attend the meeting, but his brother did.

"I've known him all my life," Brendan DuBois said. "He's one of the finest men I know, and I just hope things are resolved in a timely manner so that his interests and the interests of the city of Portsmouth are taken care of."

"What happened, what didn't happen in this case -- we need to make some resolution to this and move on, because there's a lot of other business in this community that needs to take place," Mayor Bob Lister said.

For a separation agreement to move forward, the commission will have to agree on something, the chief will have to agree to it, and the City Council will have to pass it. The earliest that can happen is November.